Why Do Nurses Eat Their Young?

More and more Nurses are getting involved and looking for solutions that will end the scourge that has persisted for so many years and tarnished the good work and dedication of all Nurses everywhere. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

Have you heard that phrase before? I graduated my Nursing Program way, way, back in 1955 and it was around even then. The perpetrator is usually a senior nurse with longevity but could be a new graduate bursting with new knowledge and techniques and anxious to give them a workout or it could be a Supervisor or someone with a higher or lower rank than the victim. Regardless who is creating the problem it is interesting that old cliche is still around in this the 21st Century.

I first encountered it when as an eighteen-year-old nursing student who had never been in a hospital had no idea what a hospital ward looked like. I was born at home, and my tonsils were removed on my Grandmother's kitchen table when I was five. That was way, way, way, back, in 1935. So imagine my surprise to learn the "Ward" my Mother talked about when she had my brothers and sister, was not a long hallway with beds on either side, as I had envisioned, but a long hallway with rooms on both sides and it even had a kitchen. Yes, I remember it well.

We spent the first three months of our training in the classroom learning the basics of bedside nursing-bed making, vital signs, bed baths, enemas, along with medical terminology, anatomy, and other basic preparations for our initiation to "The Ward". We never got further than the lobby of the Hospital and the Cafeteria until the end of those first three months. Finally, the day came with the notification our schedules were changed. Starting immediately, we would spend four hours in the classroom every morning and four hours on the Ward in the afternoon. After class, we reported to our assigned Ward and introduced ourselves to our R.N., Supervisor.

Miss G. was about four feet, ten inches, tall and weighed about ninety-eight pounds. She looked impressive in her starched, white uniform, white stockings, white, polished, shoes with clean, white, shoelaces, and perched on top of her head a starched, white, crinoline cap with a ruffled edge, with a black band around it. She wore her accessories with authority. Her school pin perfectly placed on her right chest, her nurses' watch with its black, leather band and her black, winged, glasses, which she wore at the end of her nose so she could look directly into your eyes when she spoke. She was a retired Army, Staff Sergeant, probably in her middle thirties, and Single. Yes, I remember her well.

It was the first day of my first four- hour shift. Everyone gathered in the kitchen while the R.N. Supervisor dished out the diets on to a tray, from a warming cart, which we took to the bedside. I was assigned to feed a very ill young man, hooked up to an I.V. and too ill to feed himself. My patient had a bowl of Pea Soup, a glass of water, a cup of hot tea, a packet of sugar, and a glass straw. This was my first patient and the first time I would feed someone. I was scared to death.

I rolled his bed up, placed a napkin on his chest, told him my name, what I was about to do and asked him if he was comfortable. He nodded his head. I placed the glass straw into the bowl of pea soup and brought it to his lips. He was too weak to draw the soup up through the straw so I told him I would get a spoon and I would be right back.

Once in the hallway, I forgot which way to the kitchen. I started back toward the Nurse's Station and ran into Miss G. "Where do you think you're going?" she said. "I'm looking for the kitchen," I said. "You mean to tell me you've been here an hour and a half and you don't know where the kitchen is?" I looked at her with total surprise. "Yes.", I replied. She gave me directions and I was on my way.

There were lots of cupboards and drawers in the kitchen and I had no idea where they hid the tableware. I started opening drawers when I heard a sound behind me. Miss G. was standing in the doorway watching me. "Can you tell me where they keep the spoons?" I asked. "Don't they teach you anything in that classroom? You were just in this kitchen. You don't remember where the spoons are. What kind of nurse do you think you will be if you can't remember from fifteen minutes ago?" That was my intro to Miss G. and it was just the beginning. I finally got back to my patient but by that time, the soup was cold. I went back to the kitchen to get some warm soup. I'll give you three guesses who was there and what happened next. The first two don't count.

That was fifty-four years ago. Do nurses still eat their young? Yes, they do and there is plenty of evidence to support its existence right here on the internet. Just go to any Nurse Blog or Forum and you will find page after page of comments from nurses, young and old, male and female, R.N.'s, L.P.N.'s, C.N.A's, all venting their frustrations about the treatment they endure from NURSES WHO EAT THEIR YOUNG. Why do they do it? They do it because they can.

Fortunately, there is hope for the future. Due to Nursing Forums like this one, more and more Nurses are getting involved and looking for solutions that will end the scourge that has persisted for so many years and tarnished the good work and dedication of Nurses everywhere. Now if only someone would start teaching "How to build a team" or "Teamwork is the answer" that would be a place to start.

Teamwork was taught to me by the military. I went to a few months of BUDS.I learned a lot about teamwork there. I don't think it can be taught in school very well. New nurses need a mentor. They need to be shown how to be a good nurse. This starts in Clinicals. Unfortunately nurses don't have time to do this or they just don't care. Most of the nurses in my clinicals didn't want to be bothered. They just used students as extra but wipers and bath givers. You can teach this in clinicals but I don't believe you can in class. When a new nurse comes on board they need to be taught correctly. This is when a leader needs to lead. They need to show them how to be a good nurse. It doesn't have to be the charge nurse or preceptor. The problem is that many nurses are burnt out and they want nothing to do with new nurses or students. The students and new nurses also have to put out and do there part.

What a GREAT article. Thank you for making us newbies feel less stupid :).

Perhaps for the same reason they eat their elders, as well. The old battle-axes are jealous of youth and beauty, the youngsters are jealous of experience and skill.

Ah, at 39 I am just as sexy as a 19 year old. I think females are not socialized for leadership skills or to work as a team.

I am the mom of two. My teenage son is in boyscouts, they learn everything from being a patrol leader to a follower to working together to pitch a tent blindfolded.

My pre-teen daughter went to a few girl scout meetings, they did crafts, learned some first aid and had an activity where the girls "talked about their feelings..." D.D was NOT into that.

We need more programs for girls to learn the skills the boys do...unfortunately, if we are fighting with each other who is getting ahead?

Thank-you for publishing this article. Sometimes I believe people treat others as less than human to bolster their sense of self. Pretty sad.

Specializes in Acute Care Hosp, Nursing Home, Clinics.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You get it. This is first post that address the problem at its core. Maybe Girl Scouts is where we should begin to address the problem. Would like to hear from anyone else who has an idea. Teamwork works! Learning how to build a team and becomming a team leader is an Art. It needs to be taught.

thank you. thank you. thank you. you get it. this is first post that address the problem at its core. maybe girl scouts is where we should begin to address the problem. would like to hear from anyone else who has an idea. teamwork works! learning how to build a team and becomming a team leader is an art. it needs to be taught.

:)

i think it's something as females we need to address. we wonder why males who enter traditionally female dominated fields crack the glass ceiling-the problem is too, is sexism as well. this starts so young. it's good to be healthy and competitive but to sabotage co workers and tare someone down doesn't help anyone!!!

Specializes in none yet.

I agree wholeheartedly that teamwork needs to be taught. It can also happen as a side effect of any school activity when there are teams. And girls aren't the only ones who need to be taught and experience team work. Not all guys know how to work as part of a team if they have never been part of one. But if it is emphasized in their first jobs, girls and guys will pick it up.

A good team first needs a leader dedicated to building the team. If the designated leader won't do it and the mix of team members is good, a leader will emerge. But having a good leader who helps each member contribute to the team is essential.

My nursing school, like many schools I am aware of, taught what a team is and had us work in teams on many assignments. So there will be good teamwork among more newly graduated and future nurses. It seems to me we need to decide how to educate the nurses who have never been part of a team or never experienced effective teamwork. The nurse managers, directors, and charge nurses have to learn about and experience teamwork themselves then let their nurses know that teamwork will be a part of the unit and teach the nurses who need teaching.

I suggest having teams of nurses who are familiar with teamwork work together. Then when those teams are comfortable, a nurse be added who doesn't know how to be a team member. That way the team's effectiveness won't be disrupted and the new member will get a chance to practice his/her learning. The age of the nurses is no indication of knowing how to be a team member. Younger (

I am a second career nurse who is over 50, but I am a new graduate of a school which emphasized teamwork. So I know how to work as a team member. Just because someone is 25 doesn't mean he/she knows how to work as a good team member.

We have to work with what we have. Supervisors have to give their implicit requirement that health care workers work in teams and teach those who have never learned how. Requiring team work and education for teamwork starts with the leaders, at every management level upward to the CEO, buying into it.

If research finds that teamwork is more cost effective and better for patients, watch how quickly education about teamwork and requirement for teamwork happens.

Specializes in Forensic Psych RN.

This an important topic. It is also important that, collectively, we as a profession think about how we are represented with behavior that results in a saying like "nurses eat their young" becoming institutionalized. I became a nurse in my 50's fulfilling a life long desire to do so. I think my perspective on nursing school and clinicals was a little different than my younger classmates. Also, my perspective on my instructors, clinical preceptors, and supervising nurses was different. Most of them were my age and my generation if not a bit younger. Therefore, I was not young and not so willing to be eaten. At the same time, I had to get along and get through. I was definitely treated differently--not so susceptible to inappropriate or unnecessary criticism. After a 13-year corporate career with Chevron and 18 years owning my own business, this wasn't my first rodeo. Like a mom watching her children, many times I looked at my instructors and preceptors ashamed that we were the same generation and they would choose such lame behavior.

I came to realize that many of the female nurses I was around had no other work experience except nursing. They most likely went to nursing school right out of high school and into the hospital right out of nursing school. When I worked at Chevron, I worked with engineers, mostly men. If I had displayed any of the pettiness and immaturity I frequently saw during med/surg clinicals, I wouldn't have been around long. Like every professional position, there was a standard and expectation of behavior and if you didn't catch on or continued to cause drama, you were out. I think if there was a more diverse background of work experience among nurses, the professionalism and maturity would follow.

As is also the case in many work environments, it is my belief that people bring their tired old issues they have been carrying around for years and act them out in the workplace. There were times during clinical rotation that I felt like I was in a girls locker room in high school and not a hospital. So much drama among some of the female nurse/employees to the point that you had to wonder how they could safely perform their jobs.

It would behoove us as a profession to view ourselves as men and women that want to represent our chosen profession the way the public sees us: trusted, compassionate, responsible professionals. I think for the most part that is true, but I am perplexed why it goes out the window when it comes to facilitating the learning and advancement of inexperienced peers. It's a perverse situation. Maybe the changing standards created by requiring education through a BSN minimum or magnet status of the hospitals will make a difference. Like the changes made through the civil rights movement of the 1960s, we could all start to make a change by not using the term "nurses eat their young" as a form of humor or a forgone conclusion. If we all treated it as something to be ashamed of, maybe it would stop.

This an important topic. It is also important that, collectively, we as a profession think about how we are represented with behavior that results in a saying like "nurses eat their young" becoming institutionalized. I became a nurse in my 50's fulfilling a life long desire to do so. I think my perspective on nursing school and clinicals was a little different than my younger classmates. Also, my perspective on my instructors, clinical preceptors, and supervising nurses was different. Most of them were my age and my generation if not a bit younger. Therefore, I was not young and not so willing to be eaten. At the same time, I had to get along and get through. I was definitely treated differently--not so susceptible to inappropriate or unnecessary criticism. After a 13-year corporate career with Chevron and 18 years owning my own business, this wasn't my first rodeo. Like a mom watching her children, many times I looked at my instructors and preceptors ashamed that we were the same generation and they would choose such lame behavior.

I came to realize that many of the female nurses I was around had no other work experience except nursing. They most likely went to nursing school right out of high school and into the hospital right out of nursing school. When I worked at Chevron, I worked with engineers, mostly men. If I had displayed any of the pettiness and immaturity I frequently saw during med/surg clinicals, I wouldn't have been around long. Like every professional position, there was a standard and expectation of behavior and if you didn't catch on or continued to cause drama, you were out. I think if there was a more diverse background of work experience among nurses, the professionalism and maturity would follow.

As is also the case in many work environments, it is my belief that people bring their tired old issues they have been carrying around for years and act them out in the workplace. There were times during clinical rotation that I felt like I was in a girls locker room in high school and not a hospital. So much drama among some of the female nurse/employees to the point that you had to wonder how they could safely perform their jobs.

It would behoove us as a profession to view ourselves as men and women that want to represent our chosen profession the way the public sees us: trusted, compassionate, responsible professionals. I think for the most part that is true, but I am perplexed why it goes out the window when it comes to facilitating the learning and advancement of inexperienced peers. It's a perverse situation. Maybe the changing standards created by requiring education through a BSN minimum or magnet status of the hospitals will make a difference. Like the changes made through the civil rights movement of the 1960s, we could all start to make a change by not using the term "nurses eat their young" as a form of humor or a forgone conclusion. If we all treated it as something to be ashamed of, maybe it would stop.

Wow! You went from an executive to nursing! Talk about a 180. WHAT do you think causes the "...nurses eat their young..." culture? Is it the stress of what nurses deal with? Or are certain types of people attracted to the profession?

On a smaller level than nursing I work with "high risk" teens. BTW I hate the term high risk but for simplicity I will use it, and the games, the nastiness between staff makes me so sad. I am so fortunate to have a few co-workers where we work together to get rid of the "divide and conquer" from the kids and the staff...but..it's heart breaking. I expected better from the profession I chose.

I agree wholeheartedly that teamwork needs to be taught. It can also happen as a side effect of any school activity when there are teams. And girls aren't the only ones who need to be taught and experience team work. Not all guys know how to work as part of a team if they have never been part of one. But if it is emphasized in their first jobs, girls and guys will pick it up.

A good team first needs a leader dedicated to building the team. If the designated leader won't do it and the mix of team members is good, a leader will emerge. But having a good leader who helps each member contribute to the team is essential.

My nursing school, like many schools I am aware of, taught what a team is and had us work in teams on many assignments. So there will be good teamwork among more newly graduated and future nurses. It seems to me we need to decide how to educate the nurses who have never been part of a team or never experienced effective teamwork. The nurse managers, directors, and charge nurses have to learn about and experience teamwork themselves then let their nurses know that teamwork will be a part of the unit and teach the nurses who need teaching.

I suggest having teams of nurses who are familiar with teamwork work together. Then when those teams are comfortable, a nurse be added who doesn't know how to be a team member. That way the team's effectiveness won't be disrupted and the new member will get a chance to practice his/her learning. The age of the nurses is no indication of knowing how to be a team member. Younger (

I am a second career nurse who is over 50, but I am a new graduate of a school which emphasized teamwork. So I know how to work as a team member. Just because someone is 25 doesn't mean he/she knows how to work as a good team member.

We have to work with what we have. Supervisors have to give their implicit requirement that health care workers work in teams and teach those who have never learned how. Requiring team work and education for teamwork starts with the leaders, at every management level upward to the CEO, buying into it.

If research finds that teamwork is more cost effective and better for patients, watch how quickly education about teamwork and requirement for teamwork happens.

You do have a point...sometimes male or female the ego gets in the way and makes work life difficult! Team building exercises would be a good start. When I was in my final year of social work school we had field placement study and the instructor had each student create a team building activity...NOW I know why she did it...I guess nurses aren't the only ones to eat their young, social workers do it too. :crying2: BUT they usually wait until we are done with school and at our first job.

Specializes in Acute Care Hosp, Nursing Home, Clinics.

"came to realize that many of the female nurses I was around had no other work experience except nursing. They most likely went to nursing school right out of high school and into the hospital right out of nursing school. When I worked at Chevron, I worked with engineers, mostly men. If I had displayed any of the pettiness and immaturity I frequently saw during med/surg clinicals, I wouldn't have been around long. Like every professional position, there was a standard and expectation of behavior and if you didn't catch on or continued to cause drama, you were out. I think if there was a more diverse background of work experience among nurses, the professionalism and maturity would follow."

Excellent Post Derme2000. That has been my experience also. I have worked in the AeroSpace Industry as an Administrative Assistant , Insurance in Sales, and Real Estate, and owned a few businesses. That came after many years in Nursing. Imagine my surprise when I was promoted from typist in a pool to Admin. Assist to Chief Buyer within a few months of being hired. Imagine my surprise when I got "Merit Raises" for a job well done. And imagine my surprise when I was treated as a valued member of the team.

When I went back to Nursing I brought what I learned in Private Industry and took every opportunity to share the lessons learned with the people I worked with and the people who worked with me. I happened to land in a few places where the D.O.N and/or Administrator supported my efforts to "raise the Bar" and elevate the level of care. Yes you do bring a different perspective to the job.

FlowerPower00 It is my experience it is lack of experience in the real world and a hiearchy which in unaware of the problems or unable to identify them and have no real solutions except to continue doing the same old thing. This forum is making me aware there are people out there who can make a difference. It is really sad "Why do Nurses eat their young" is still around and I love what Derme2000 said,

"It would behoove us as a profession to view ourselves as men and women that want to represent our chosen profession the way the public sees us: trusted, compassionate, responsible professionals. I think for the most part that is true, but I am perplexed why it goes out the window when it comes to facilitating the learning and advancement of inexperienced peers. It's a perverse situation. Maybe the changing standards created by requiring education through a BSN minimum or magnet status of the hospitals will make a difference. Like the changes made through the civil rights movement of the 1960s, we could all start to make a change by not using the term "nurses eat their young" as a form of humor or a forgone conclusion. If we all treated it as something to be ashamed of, maybe it would stop."

I am retired and I have given my best without any consequential result that

could be measured on a grander scale. It is encouraging to hear from someone who speaks with clarity and hope springs eternal.

Specializes in Acute Care Hosp, Nursing Home, Clinics.

Correction that 2nd quote was from Derme2000. Got a little carried away there. Sorry Derme2000

I don't want to delete the article. I just wanted to delete the message where i tried to correct a misquote and clarify a statement

I would agree that coming from a different field will make a difference. I am in pre-reqs for nursing school, but I know I will be able to handle anything thrown at me from "young-eating" nurses!

I am in banking now, another industry with many women in it, and it is amazing the difference that "bad apple" can make. I work with a woman currently who does everything in her power to belittle people in our office. It drives me crazy! My tellers come to me for advice and help, even though I am in sales and she is management. It helps that I was management before, so I can answer their questions in a helpful, mentor-like way. I think it is the biggest compliment to your skills if you can mentor someone to be a better employee. Why people must belittle and discourage others is baffling to me.

I hope one day to be given the priviledge of being a preceptor. I think teaching others your skills is an amazing gift you can give to someone, and I value raising people up!

(Now I hope I get someone like me in school and beyond!) :hug: